David Starr Jordan

Biography

David Starr Jordan was a pioneering naturalist whose studies of fish and the natural world earned him national acclaim, and he became the first president of Stanford University, shaping it into a major center for research and learning. He wrote widely on biology, conservation, and education, encouraging others to observe closely and cherish the living world.

His leadership extended beyond the academy, as he advocated for international peace, scientific cooperation, and the protection of wild places, and he spent his final years continuing to mentor students and scholars before resting at Alta Mesa Memorial Park.